Lex Med Blog

Our hospital lobby has a new addition for the Christmas season. Dr. Richard Webb of Lexington Surgical Associates, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice, has graciously allowed us to display his beautiful model train collection during the holiday season.

Dr. Webb has been collecting the pieces since childhood. The set has already garnered a lot of attention and accolades from hospital staff and community members. We hope it’s the beginning of a holiday tradition for many years to come.

Learn all about Dr. Webb’s love for these trains in the video below.

And Merry Christmas!

Lexington Medical Center proudly welcomes Andrew W. Piasecki, MD, to its network of care at Southeastern Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine. The practice provides a variety of orthopaedic services, including arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle; total shoulder, elbow, hip and knee replacement; partial knee replacement; and ACL reconstruction.

Dr. Piasecki graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He earned his medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Texas Tech University/William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.

Board certified in orthopaedic surgery with sub-specialty certification in sports medicine by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Piasecki served as an orthopaedic surgeon with the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Moncrief Army Community Hospital at Fort Jackson in Columbia, and deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom as deputy commander of Clinical Services for Detachment . For his dedicated service, Dr. Piasecki was promoted to deputy commander of Clinical Services for Detachment, A-249th General Hospital. He received the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star Medal for this service.

Dr. Piasecki most recently served on the board of directors for the South Carolina Orthopaedic Association and is a past president of the organization. He was chief of the Department of Surgery at Kershaw Health in Camden, South Carolina, and the managing partner of Camden Bone and Joint in Camden.

Dr. Piasecki is accepting new patients.

Southeastern Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
Lexington Medical Park 2
146 East Hospital Drive, Suite 350
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 936-7966
SEOrthopaedic.com

Spaghetti squash is a popular winter squash. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, including ivory, yellow and orange. Orange has the highest amount of carotene. Spaghetti squash stands out from other varieties for its thick, pasta-like fibers and is often referred to as “vegetable-spaghetti.” Its low-carbohydrate, nutrient-rich strands are a suitable alternative to cereal noodles, especially for people with gluten sensitivity.

Benefits
•Like other winter squashes, spaghetti squash is a low-calorie vegetable. A 100g serving provides just 31 calories, contains no saturated fats or cholesterol, and is rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Dietitians recommend spaghetti squash to help control cholesterol and lose weight.
•Its flesh, along with its strands, contains a good amount of dietary fiber. This roughage binds to cancer-causing toxins and chemicals in the colon to protect against inflammatory bowel disease, cancers and diverticulitis.
•Spaghetti squash carries antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin C and carotenes. Vitamin A is a powerful, natural antioxidant, and the body needs it to maintain the integrity of skin and mucosa. It is also an essential vitamin for healthy eyesight. Research suggests that natural foods rich in vitamin A may help the human body protect against lung and oral cavity cancers.
•Spaghetti squash boasts higher B-complex vitamins, such as folates, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), than in those found in pumpkins.
•It is a modest source of minerals, such as zinc, copper, calcium and phosphorus.
•Spaghetti squash seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids, protein, minerals and vitamins.

Recipe
Turkey Bolognese & Roasted Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients
•2 carrots cut in chunks
•2 celery stalks cut in chunks
•1 large onion cut in chunks
•2 T cloves garlic minced
•2 lb ground turkey
•1 cup dry white wine
•4 fresh bay leaves
•3-4 cups quality stock (chicken, beef, turkey, veal)
•1 cup milk
•1 26-28 oz carton or can tomatoes
•Salt and pepper to taste
•Parmesan (for garnish)
•Italian parsley chopped (for garnish)
•4-5 lb spaghetti squash
•2 T olive oil divided
•3 cloves garlic minced
•1 T fresh herbs finely chopped (oregano, basil, thyme)
•Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
Bolognese
1. Add carrots, celery and onion to bowl of full-sized food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
2. In a heavy Dutch oven, heat olive oil to medium high heat. Add minced vegetables. Sauté until onions are translucent. Add garlic. Stir to combine.
3. Add ground meat. Using a potato masher or wooden spoon, break the meat and stir until it begins to brown, and caramelization appears in the pot.
4. Deglaze with white wine. Add bay leaves. Simmer until most of the liquid is gone.
5. Add stock. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook until liquid reduces by half.
6. Add milk and tomatoes. Cover 3/4 of the pot with the lid. Simmer on low for 1-2 hours. Add additional stock as needed.
7. Sauce should be thick, but not dry.
8. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
9. Garnish with shaved Parmesan and chopped parsley.

Spaghetti Squash
1. Preheat oven to 400° (375° for convection).
2. Carefully slice spaghetti squash in half lengthwise.
3. Scoop seeds from the center of both halves.
4. Place cut side up on a cookie sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
5. Roast until tender and barely beginning to brown, approximately 45-60 minutes depending on size (20 percent less in convection ovens).
6. Cool until the squash can be handled. Using a fork, remove the flesh from the skin to a large bowl. Set aside.
7. Ten minutes before dinner, heat a bit of olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add garlic. Stir until fragrant.
8. Add the strands of spaghetti squash. Stir 5-6 minutes.
9. Add fresh herbs, salt and pepper. Check for seasoning.

To Serve
Top spaghetti squash with a generous scoop of Bolognese. Garnish with shaved Parmesan and chopped parsley.